Donkey cart accidents, 2 dead

Two people were killed while two others escaped unhurt in separate scotch-cart accidents that occurred in Bulilima in Matabeleland South and Mwenezi in Masvingo, police have said.

A 10-year-old boy was crushed to death in Bulilima after a scotch cart he was travelling in overturned and hit him on the head.

In Mwenezi, a 34-year-old man died on the spot and two others escaped unhurt when a 200-litre drum of water on a donkey-drawn scotch cart they were travelling in slid backwards and hit him.

Headman Ndolwane confirmed the Bulilima accident which killed a Grade 5 pupil, Simon Ncube of Ndolwane area.

Simon's aunt Julia Ndebele said her nephew was on his way to the shops in the company of his siblings when the incident occurred on Sunday afternoon.

She said her nephew was buried on Monday at her homestead.

"Simon was living under my care and the incident has left me devastated. He left with his siblings and cousins heading for the shops in a donkey-drawn scotch cart when the incident occurred.

"It appears that Simon was the only one sitting in the scotch cart as he was the youngest which explains why he was the only one who was harmed," said Ndebele.

She said one of the scotch-cart wheels hit a tree stump causing it to overturn once.

Ndebele said that her nephew was thrown out of the scotch-cart and his body was trapped underneath.

"From what the other boys said the scotch-cart hit him on the head and rested on his body. They called for help and removed him from beneath the scotch cart but he was already dead.

"It appears that he suffered a severe blow on the head because he sustained a deep wound. Simon was bleeding profusely. When I reached the scene the boy was already dead," she said.

Ndebele said her nephew was reportedly driving the cart at a high speed while his cousins were chasing after him.

Chief Masendu said scotch cart accidents had caused the deaths of many youngsters in Bulilima. He said adults needed to accompany children using scotch carts on long distances to avoid loss of lives.

Matabeleland South acting provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Nkosilathi Sibanda said he heard of the accident but was yet to receive a detailed report on what transpired.

In Masvingo, a 34-year-old Mwenezi man died on the spot while two others escaped unhurt in an accident that happened on a steep terrain at the 10km peg along Mateke Hills–Chigoyi Farm Road, police confirmed yesterday.

Morgan Kuriremu of Chihota Farm, Mateke Hills was fatally hit as he attempted to jump out of the moving scotch cart when he saw the sliding plastic drum coming his way.

Masvingo police spokesperson, Inspector Charity Mazula, said the incident happened on Friday at around 5PM.

"I confirm receiving a report of an accident which claimed a Mwenezi man's life. Kuriremu died before he could be rushed to hospital. His body was taken to Neshuro Hospital mortuary for a post-mortem," said Insp Mazula.

She said Kuriremu sustained serious head injuries as the plastic drum slid backwards and hit him as he was in the process of jumping out of the scotch cart.

The other occupants escaped unhurt.

Insp Mazula said:

"Upon reaching Chigoyi Farm gate, the drawbar sprung upwards due to the steep terrain leading to the drum sliding backwards.

"The drum hit Kuriremu on the head. He tried to jump from the scotch cart but the drum which was sliding faster hit his head resulting in him sustaining serious injuries.

"He died on the spot, ten minutes after the mishap. The other occupants escaped unscathed."

A report was made to Mwenezi police who attended the scene and took the body to Neshuro Hospital mortuary.

Insp Mazula advised members of the public to always exercise caution when travelling in scotch carts to avoid loss of life.